Campus Life

Highlights from the 2025 State of the University

lblouin — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:41:50 +0000

Highlights from the 2025 State of the University lblouin Mon, 02/03/2025 - 12:41

Chancellor Domenico Grasso hosted his annual State of the University address last Thursday before a standing-room-only audience of more than 250. Grasso shared the university’s progress toward key milestones, as well as some concerns and challenges, before handing the mic over to the offices of the Provost, Institutional Advancement and Facilities Operations, as well as several ��-Dearborn students, to discuss new initiatives and their impact, along with some future plans. Key takeaways from the event are below.

More students are crossing the finish line to graduation.

Several key metrics in the GOBLUEprint for Success — the university’s strategic plan — are well on track. The four-year graduation rate has climbed from 22% in 2018 to 38% in 2024. “That's a 16% increase. That is truly incredible,” Grasso noted. “Many factors have led to this success in graduation rate: our students’ determination, our professors’ skill and mentoring, our campus resources and a community that is dedicated to seeing students across the finish line.”

The transition to a need-based financial aid model means that 94% of ��-Dearborn undergraduate FTIAC students now receive enough aid that their remaining obligations are less than $2,000 a year. And half of classes on campus now include a practice-based learning component. “This approach provides distinctive and creative opportunities for our students to prepare for the next phase of their careers,” Grasso observed. “I commend the faculty who design these courses and the department chairs and deans who support them.”

Faculty continue to excel: In the past two years, faculty and staff annual citations in publications have grown from 13,500 to over 22,000, and ��-Dearborn faculty experts appeared in 119 major local and national media outlets in 2024. Research awards continue to climb as well. While the university aimed for $9.8 million in research support in FY2024, that number actually reached nearly $12 million. Awarded and recommended funding for the first six months of FY25 now exceeds $14 million.

Grasso celebrated last year’s launch of the Office of Holistic Excellence, noting that the office was supporting several storytelling initiatives as a means of building empathy and a sense of inclusion across campus, as recently discussed in Insight into Diversity magazine. He noted that the campus community will see a new set of KPIs related to belonging and inclusion. The latest GOBLUEprint for Success KPI report was emailed to campus following the event.

Overall enrollment is encouraging, but there is still work to do.

Grasso was candid about the fact that the university’s highest hurdle — one shared by nearly every college and university in the state and many across the country — is enrollment. "There are simply fewer college age students today than a decade ago, especially here in Michigan, but there are still growing opportunities,” he said. “We currently enroll 8,100 students, and have challenged ourselves to enroll 10,000 by 2032. We have experienced modest increases in undergraduate students, which is encouraging. More students should experience everything we have to offer here at ��-Dearborn.”

Grasso shared two concerns about graduate enrollment: first, it has declined, and second, the new presidential administration could severely limit the ability of prospective international students to enter the U.S. “The encouraging news is that the Institute of International Education believes enough members of Congress appreciate what international students contribute to our communities and economy,” Grasso observed. “Our university, too, will continue to advocate for this important community.”

He added that he is meeting with executive officers across all three campuses daily to monitor changes in federal policies, and that the university is regularly posting information on federal orders, policies and regulations on the Key Issues section of the ��-Dearborn website. He urged faculty, staff and students to visit this page for the latest information pertaining specifically to the Dearborn campus.

Grasso also addressed enrollment concerns in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the resulting need to collaboratively reimagine the college’s future. “Together, let’s focus on creative and lasting solutions,” he said. “I would love nothing more than for the University of Michigan-Dearborn to create novel approaches for increasing the attractiveness of the arts and humanities that could serve as models for higher education.”

Fundraising is essential to maintaining the mission.

Grasso then passed the mic to Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Casandra Ulbrich, who shared details about the university’s recently launched five-year “Look to Michigan” fundraising campaign. After announcing the campaign goal of $60 million, she shared short videos from three donors who choose to support ��-Dearborn in diverse ways: Mark Ritz and L. Lee Gorman have made a multi-year gift of $500,000 to install solar panels on the roof of the England Engineering Lab Building; Sadaf Lodhi and Riz Hussain have directed stock to the Student Opportunity and Engagement Fund; and Altair’s corporate contribution created the Altair #OnlyForward Scholarship Fund in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Ulbrich then spoke with two #OnlyForward scholarship recipients, CECS juniors Rehab Jadalla and Jide Owo, about the impact of the award. “Receiving the scholarship, to me, it means that, instead of spending time taking on additional jobs and taking on work to try to make ends meet for each semester, I have the space to take on the opportunities that I'm passionate about and are related to my ultimate career goals,” Jadalla, who is studying software engineering, said.

CECS juniors Rehab Jadalla (right) and Jide Owo (middle) spoke to the crowd about the impact of the #OnlyForward scholarship, sponsored by Altair Engineering.

“I also grew up in Dearborn, so I'm really, really proud to be attending this university," she added. "Just the culture of how encouraging and supportive the faculty and staff here are and the other students, and also the opportunities that I've had over the past three years, I don't think I would find at any other university."

Student success initiatives are having a big impact.

Associate Provosts Maureen Linker and Joan Remski discussed several initiatives led by Experience+ and the Office of Academic Success, all of which are seeing impressive results. These include the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, the Wolverine Mentor Collective, a new peer-to-peer tutoring program that enables students to get help with their studies 24/7 and the STEM Scholars program, which supports STEM majors from low-income backgrounds throughout their time at ��-Dearborn and boasts a 98% retention rate. Two STEM Scholars, Myriam Hazime and Zahra Alemarah, joined Remski on stage to reflect on their experiences. “I was always provided with a very strong support group that I felt like other students outside of STEM scholars didn't have,” Hazime, a CECS sophomore majoring in software engineering, told the audience.

Alemarah, a CASL junior majoring in biochemistry, echoed her sentiments: “Something that's really important, especially at ��-Dearborn as a commuter campus, is building a relationship your first year, your freshman year. Through STEM Scholars, I had so many different friends, and it was very crucial to keep me going to study when it feels impossible, to ask for help when I need it.”

Great spaces encourage students to stay.

Executive Director for Facilities Carol Glick closed out the event with a quick check-in on the Comprehensive Campus Plan, an overview of the design process, and a look at five priority projects, all in different phases: the Computer and Information Science Building (investigation phase), Mardigian Library (conceptual design), Social Sciences Building renovations for the College of Business (schematic design), Administrative Building renovations to support the move of the College of Education, Health and Human Services (design development) and the Renick University Center first floor, which is currently wrapping up construction. Glick shared a few “before and after” renderings and photos, revealing a significantly transformed space complete with a fireplace where students won’t just pass through, but will want to hang out for hours. After the event, many attendees took advantage of tours led by the facilities team and the University Unions and Events office to see the changes in real life.

Executive Director for Facilities Carol Glick gave an update on the Comprehensive Campus Plan.

Concluding the event, which took place on a nearly 40-degree day, Grasso invited attendees to stick around for the Winter Carnival. “We actually have winter this year,” he’d noted earlier in his address. “Sort of.”

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Story by Kristin Palm. Photos by Annie Barker. Watch the recording of the event here.

Administration & Governance

Institutional Advancement

Off

Mon, 02/03/2025 - 17:40

Chancellor Grasso’s annual address covered enrollment good news and challenges, major research wins, promising student success initiatives and more.

Chancellor Domenico Grasso speaks to a crowd of more than 250 at the 2025 State of the University event.

Wolverine Welcome Day hosts record number of attendees

kbourlie — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:54:31 +0000

Wolverine Welcome Day hosts record number of attendees kbourlie Fri, 08/30/2024 - 16:54

Faculty, staff and university leaders took part in scavenger hunts, selfie stations and more to introduce themselves. Dearborn Wolverines walked throughout campus to check out 125 student organizations booths. And 1,100 new first-year, transfer and graduate students had the opportunity to make new friends. Wolverine Welcome Day and Go Blue Bash, which took place Thursday, is a fall tradition to get new students familiar with campus and excited about this chapter in their lives.

Students pose for a photo with Bruce the Goose at Wolverine Welcome Day.

“I like the vibes, the music,” said first-year engineering student Faisal Abushaban as he waited for festivities to begin. He was looking forward to meeting up with friends from Edsel Ford High School who would be staffing student group tables at the Go Blue Bash later in the afternoon. “Hopefully they can help me get started and know where my classes are,” he said.

Campus Wide & Family Programs Coordinator Jennifer Kowalcyk said ��-Dearborn hosted a record-number of Wolverine Welcome Day attendees this year. “It’s much larger this year — I’ve heard this may be our biggest first-year student class yet,” she said. “This is a great event to get students out to explore campus, learn about resources and see what being a Dearborn Wolverine is all about.”

With many upper-level ��-Dearborn students focused on service and volunteering, there was a new focus added to the day. Civic Engagement Coordinator JaNai' James said each student registered for the Welcome Day of Service was given a t-shirt with a checklist of volunteer opportunities on the back. A group of first-year and returning students checked off one box by helping place native plants around the Environmental Interpretive Center during the event.

“I know that planting those plants, they’re going to stay there for a while and actually make a difference for a little while,” said sophomore Traven Yarbro, who is studying economics and computation. It was Yarbro’s first visit to the EIC, but he enjoys walking around campus and said he will likely add the EIC trails to his outings. “Now that I know there’s trails back there that’s probably where I’ll start going,” he said.

Among other items on the list: Get civically engaged and sign up for a campus volunteer opportunity. “We hope that the shirts invoke some excitement and commitment to continuing to attend and support different volunteer initiatives and activities on campus.” James said. “It’s a fun way to prompt students to ask themselves, ‘How engaged am I?’” She said it's also an opportunity to promote Civic Action Week, which takes place Sept. 16, and National Lands Day, which is Sept. 28. “Our goal is to help students locate a community initiative they are personally passionate about and guide them to becoming community leaders.”

Dean of Students Amy Finley, along with other ��-Dearborn leaders, spoke to students at the event. She said time goes fast — and Wolverine Welcome Day is a first step in a fulfilling journey.

“You’ll look back at this time and be proud of the work you’ve done, the life-long friendships you’ve built and the ways that you’ve grown and changed,” Finley said. “But today, my friends, whether you’re a first-year student, a transfer student or a graduate student — today is the day where you start to feel transformed. Today is the day where you start reaching for the stars, for your dreams. Today is the day where you start figuring out who you are and what you are going to do to help transform our world. Today you truly become a part of our ��-Dearborn community.”

Students ended the day with new connections. “I met a young man early on from Pakistan and he’s awesome,” said first-year CASL student Andi Basnaw, who is from Port Huron and came to the event not knowing any fellow students. Basnaw was looking forward to learning more about the Association of Student Anthropologists and PRIDE at the Go Blue Bash.

Mercy Tum, a software engineering graduate student from Kenya, enjoyed taking in the campus for the first time. “The day has been great,” she said. “I got lost a couple times but thankfully there are a lot of nice people to show you around.”

College of Business first-year student Connor Swank came from Traverse City to join the men’s lacrosse team. “I fell in love when I visited,” he said, noting that he committed to the team the following day. Wolverine Welcome Day and the Go Blue Bash only made him feel more enthusiastic. “Everyone is so welcoming, it’s really cool,” he said. “I have no anxiety. It just feels like home already.”

Story by Sarah Tuxbury and Kristin Palm

Campus Life

New Student Engagement

Student Life

Off

Fri, 08/30/2024 - 20:30

The ��-Dearborn orientation event saw 1,100 participants, added an engagement initiative and connected Dearborn Wolverines to new friendships and activities.

Students arrive at Wolverine Welcome Day. Photos/Annie Barker

Facilities teams made progress on some big picture upgrades this summer

lblouin — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 12:55:19 +0000

Facilities teams made progress on some big picture upgrades this summer lblouin Mon, 08/26/2024 - 08:55

Summer is typically a time when facilities teams are sprinting around campus, trying to complete a laundry list of projects and upgrades before the start of the busy fall semester. But Executive Director for Facilities Carol Glick says this summer had a little different rhythm. “We’ve actually been working on a few big projects rather than a lot of smaller ones. And these are projects that really represent a sort of culture change that’s happening at the university, so that makes it a lot more exciting,” Glick says.

The biggest of those projects is the ongoing first floor renovation of the Renick University Center, which, along with the Mardigian Library and the outdoor space between the two buildings, is being reimagined as a central hub for campus in the new comprehensive campus plan. This summer, crews tackled some of the unglamorous heavy lifting for the project, including ripping up floors, installing new underground plumbing and pouring new concrete. Glick says walls have also been demoed and new walls are going up to create the improved floor plan, which includes several changes to office footprints, a large meeting room for hosting orientation groups and a new public lounge area with a fireplace. Though the scene right now is a construction zone, Interior Designer Sally Hamilton is already working on some of the finishing touches for that space, including ordering furniture and fabrics. Hamilton says the challenge of the moment is “picking out the right maize” to match some of the interior finishes, which lean heavily on the university’s signature colors.

The first floor of the Renick University Center is a total construction zone right now. But Executive Director for Facilities Carol Glick says the project is currently on track to be completed by the end of February 2025.

Glick says they haven’t run into major hurdles — a pleasant surprise in any renovation — and the project remains on track for a late-February reopening of the first floor. One area that’s already complete is the Bookstore, which now has a smaller footprint and a new manager, Lulu Owens-Berry, who started this summer. New features include a concierge textbook area, where students can ask about materials needed for their courses, and lots of new ��-Dearborn-themed merchandise.

The Bookstore is stocked with lots of new ��-Dearborn merchandise this fall.

Lulu Owens-Berry is the Bookstore's new manager.

This summer, facilities teams also started some early design work for the College of Education, Health and Human Services’ and College of Business’ moves to the main campus in 2026 and 2027, respectively. COB’s new home will be the Social Sciences Building, while CEHHS will be housed in a portion of the Administration Building — two older campus structures that will get some renovations prior to the move. SmithGroup, the university’s architectural partner on the Comprehensive Campus Plan, is currently working on the redesign for the SSB, while Neumann/Smith Architecture, the university’s partner for the RUC renovation, is working on the AB.

Other summer upgrades to check out: Chancellor’s Pond got some new plumbing and a new skimmer, and the concrete basin color is being updated from blue to beige to give it a more natural appearance. The Bikeable Campus initiative also scored some progress, with new signage, sharrows and bike racks, plus resources on the university website to help bike commuters plan their routes. Facilities teams installed new electric absorption chillers in the Mardigian Library, which will help reduce the building’s carbon footprint. And with the final bulbs and fixtures going in CASL classrooms this summer, facilities teams completed a multi-year LED lighting retrofit across the entire campus — a project that’s expected to save the university more than $140,000 annually in energy costs.

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Story by Lou Blouin

Campus Life

University-wide

Facilities Operations

Facilities Planning

Off

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 12:48

The renovation of the Renick University Center’s first floor is on track, while the plan to consolidate operations on the main campus took some early steps.

The Renick University Center is currently undergoing a major renovation of its first floor, including upgrades to the university Bookstore, which are now complete. The full renovation is expected to be finished early next year.

Plan a trip to the lake

stuxbury — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:49:26 +0000

Plan a trip to the lake stuxbury Fri, 08/02/2024 - 11:49

Standing at the edge of Fair Lane Lake, there are wood ducks, great blue herons and a black-crowned night heron — all on a recent weekday lunch walk.

The trail highlighted today starts at the EIC, in red, and continues around the lake.

“We’ve seen osprey, eagles, kingfishers and other birds on or over this lake. More than 100 years after it was put here, this lake continues to serve its purpose,” says Environmental Interpretive Center Program Supervisor Rick Simek, while pointing out the many waterfowl — including a wood duck family — seen on the lake. “The lake was created in 1915 as a conservation effort. By the early 1900s, some waterfowl species were in decline. That included the wood duck, which was rapidly declining and thought to be headed toward extinction. This lake was intended to provide a refuge for wood ducks and other waterfowl."

For the last installment of Reporter’s summer trail series, Simek highlights a few interesting sights, sounds and facts around and about Fair Lane Lake.

This walk, which takes about 45 minutes depending on your pace, starts at the EIC. Then head down Orchard Trail, turn left at the lake and follow it around until you are back at Orchard Trail. Trail tip: wear bug spray, especially on a wet, humid day.

The lake and its history

As Simek shared above, the lake was created with birds in mind. “Henry Ford was a very complicated man, to put it mildly. But he was instrumental in protecting bird life and promoting conservation efforts,” Simek says. “The reason we have so many birds here today — and birds that are doing very well — is because of him.”

In 1915, Ford commissioned a 10-acre lake — which is now closer to eight acres as dirt from the 1959 campus construction was poured in the lake — that was on a gradual slope that went from 12 feet on the south end (by the Ford estate) and became more shallow as it moved north (the side closest to Henry Ford College).

At the shallow end, wild rice was planted to provide food and habitat for marsh birds. Native plantings and waterfowl food favorites like the arrowhead plants, including the still-visible duck potato, and sweet-scented water lily were planted along the lake. And fish were plentiful and could winter at the deep end of the lake. “There is no evidence that Henry Ford fished at the lake, so the fish may have been put in to provide food for waterfowl such as diving ducks, which often feed on fish,” Simek says.

With the trees, foliage and other natural debris that’s settled at the bottom of water, the maximum depth has changed over the course of a century. According to a research project conducted by 2014 environmental science graduate Ryan Keeling, who took more than 100 measurements across the pond to create a 3D image, the maximum depth is seven feet. Keeling now works at Mast Reforestation in Seattle as a senior manager of GIS technical operations.

“The lake is aging,” Simek says. “But the fish are doing well and the lake continues to provide food and refuge for the plants and animals that live here.”

The stone bridge and steps along the lake

Looking straight out of a storybook, there’s a stone bridge on the walk along the lake. But its origins are a bit of a mystery. Simek says he’s been looking into it for years, but the Fords didn’t include it among their archival blueprints or any other documentation. Simek’s best guess is that it was built around 1915, shortly after the lake was made.

What he does know is that it is a beautiful way for the lake overflow to drain into the Rouge River. “It’s a great meditative place, especially after a heavy rain or when the snow is melting. I come out here often,” Simek says. “The water flows down like a small waterfall.”

Continuing down the path right past the bridge, there are stone steps along the lake. These were built so the Fords could easily go onto the ice to skate. For summer activities, there is a small metal ring along the steps; it's where the Fords may have kept a small boat, Simek says.

The tree trail and a ‘fallen giant’

After you walk through an open chain-link gate, there’s a sign with a QR code for the EIC’s website on the right. The sign reads, “The Hidden Benefits of Trees: An Exploration of Medicinal and Other Uses from First Nations to Today.”

Matching up each number-marked tree to the website, fun facts are shared about eight different tree species on the trail. For example, boiled husks from the nuts of the black walnut tree were used to make yellow dye for fabrics. And the inner bark of the black cherry tree was made into a tea that alleviated symptoms of colds, fevers and labor pain by First Nations peoples like the Chippewa and Potawatomi. Simek says ‘2007 biological sciences alum Greg Norwood, who is now an ecologist at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, developed the tree trail guide as an undergraduate. The current guide is an updated version of Norwood’sl project.

Just past the last tree on the trail, look to the left. There’s a huge white oak on the forest floor. Simek calls it the “fallen giant” and says it was more than 300 years old when it died around 2000. The age estimation of the tree was made in the late 1970s by tree expert Paul Thompson — a statewide big tree coordinator for the Michigan Botanical Club, a role he had for 40-plus years — who worked with Biology and Environmental Studies Professor Emeritus Orin Gelderloos.

Simek, who started at ��-Dearborn in 1994, remembers when the tree still stood. “It has endured for more than three centuries — that’s nearly 100 years before we were a country. It’s this very real link to the past,” he says. “I like to think about the people and wildlife who found shade or shelter under the tree. They may no longer be here, but we will have this connection to them, thanks to this old tree.” Simek says he is sad to see the white oak slowly break down, but it also makes room for new life — including a small oak tree, which is in a cage to protect it from hungry deer, right near it. “It gives you the perspective of not just looking back, but also looking forward,” he says. “I hope this habitat stays preserved so this little oak can live 300 years too.”

Yellow flowers, conservation efforts and Eagle Scout projects

Turning the bend of the lake, there are tall yellow flowers on either side. Simek says they are ox-eye “false sunflowers,” a native wildflower. But these pretty petals didn’t just show up — it was a several-year effort of Simek and EIC volunteers. “As we’ve been removing invasive plants, we've been scattering ox-eye seeds. Birds like the seeds, pollinators like the flowers and I really enjoy seeing a nice pop of color,” he says.

Rick Simek says the sign at the top of Orchard Trail was created in 2017 by an Eagle Scout.

Community volunteers also are responsible for the cages around the small trees along the path to protect the growing saplings from hungry deer, the wooden walkways over the marshy areas along the path and the large EIC welcome sign at the mouth of the trail.

“With preserving this area, the university has given people, myself included, direct access to hands-on personal experience with nature. It is truly one-of-a-kind and the community appreciates what we have to offer,” Simek says. “We’ve had at least 40 Eagle Scout projects done here and I took a call from someone interested in doing one today. Nonprofits, schools, individuals and businesses come out to be wonderful stewards who make sure we keep this outdoor classroom and habitat in a condition that benefits everyone.”

Reporter checked out the south side of the Rouge Gateway trail in July, the north side of the trail in June and the EIC’s Orchard Trail in May. Have a favorite spot on campus and want to know a little more about it? Reach out and we’ll do a little digging.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury.

Campus Life

Nature or Environment

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Environmental Interpretive Center

Off

Fri, 08/02/2024 - 15:48

Take a dip into the history of Fair Lane Lake, along with what you’ll see when hiking around the trails that surround it.

Rick Simek relaxes on a bench on the south end of Fair Lane Lake. Photos by Sarah Tuxbury

Intriguing sites just steps from the classroom

stuxbury — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 11:26:12 +0000

Intriguing sites just steps from the classroom stuxbury Mon, 07/08/2024 - 07:26

Fossils that dot building exteriors. A wrought iron-fenced rose garden that sits on top of underground tunnels. And a new water feature that helps the fish travel up the Rouge River from the Detroit River for the first time in more than a century.

These are a few of the intriguing sites along a trek from campus to the south end of Rouge Gateway Trail. First created in 2005, the gateway trail runs through campus and gives the community a scenic way to explore local history and a route to downtown West Dearborn.

“We have so many fascinating landscape features right in our backyard. Some are beautiful, some are functional, some are intriguing — and some have a little bit of everything,” says EIC Program Coordinator and Interpretive Naturalist Dorothy McLeer, who has led educational programs along this route. “If you want a shorter walk, you can start at the CASL Building or Fieldhouse and walk along Fair Lane Road from there. You’ll still see most of the sites I’m talking about today.”

This month's trek, marked by a purple path, takes us from the EIC (in red on the left) past the Henry Ford Estate (in red on the right) and onto the south side of the Rouge Gateway Trail.

A walk from the Environmental Interpretive Center to the Rouge Gateway Trail’s south bridge and back takes about 90 minutes, depending on your pace. View a campus natural areas map.

Here are a few things you’ll see when you take the south side portion of the Rouge Gateway Trail. Since the Orchard Trail leg of the walk — which is the beginning path from the EIC to Fair Lane Lake — was previously covered in a recent article, this trail guide’s highlights will start at the edge of Fair Lane Lake.

The greenspace between Fair Lane Lake to the Henry Ford Estate

At first glance, it just looks like grass — but something else is going on here. The land didn’t always look like this. Nearly 110 years ago, this meadow was designed to use curiosity to keep people moving forward.

When at the lake, you cannot see the house. When in the middle of the meadow, you can’t see the lake or the house — just an opening in the trees that hints something is up ahead.

Geese by Fair Lane Lake

Closer to the 1915 mansion, there’s a glimpse of the 56-room residence. McLeer says the peek-a-boo pathway was created through the progressive realization technique. And Henry Ford’s landscape architect, Jens Jensen, did it by redesigning the entire area.

“Jensen turned farmland into a scenic space that looks like it could have always been here,” McLeer says. “Everything you see in the meadow, including the lake, was put here by Jensen.”

On the grounds, McLeer says there are 100-plus-year-old Hawthorn trees that dot the landscape, which was a nod to the prairie style of Frank Lloyd Wright. Looking up, there are herons, hawks and eagles that nest in or around the meadow. “This meadow was created in a way that supports and highlights nature,” McLeer says. “At the time it was done, this was progressive. I think we can say, 100 years later, that Jensen’s plan was successful.”

A century-old terrace

Once getting to the clearing end of the meadow, Henry Ford Estate — a national historic landmark — is completely visible. The first prominent feature seen is the home’s terrace. Made of limestone from Kelleys Island State Park in Ohio, there are surprises in the brownish-gray material. “There are visible fossils in this limestone. They are everywhere,” McLeer says, pointing out lighter patterns on the steps of the porch and exterior walls of the house. Fossils include extinct marine invertebrates like trilobites and nautilus-type shells.

“This limestone was all under water in Lake Erie at some point. It’s a 100-plus-year-old home made of a million-plus-year-old material,” McLeer says. In addition to the main house, McLeer says the estate’s garage, powerhouse, gazebo and potting shed also are made from the natural stone.

The rose garden

Keep walking south around the 31,000-square-foot house and you’ll arrive at a picturesque rose garden with a fountain in the center. The garden’s opening welcomes guests with a decorative wrought iron gate that once belonged to an 18^th century English manor. The gate, pictured at the top of this article, was noticed by Clara Ford on a European vacation and a deal was struck to bring it back with them for their home.

Karen Marzonie, Fair Lane director of gardens and grounds, says the flowers, including the roses around the estate, have been carefully researched by combing through historic photographs, correspondence and receipts of plant purchases from when the Fords lived at Fair Lane. “It’s not unusual for homeowners, especially garden enthusiasts like Clara Ford, to revise their plant choices over time," she says. "Fair Lane’s gardens and grounds reflect the plant preferences of the Fords while responding to today’s need for disease- and deer-resistant plant varieties.”

Not only is the garden beautiful, it’s intriguing. McLeer says there’s a tunnel from the Ford’s power house to the main home that runs under the roses. Ford used a variety of tunnels to travel to the buildings without needing to be concerned about weather.

The tunnels were also an important safety feature in the wake of the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping, in which the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son was snatched from his home. McLeer says the Fords saw the underground passage as a way to protect their often-visiting grandchildren. At the time, their youngest grandchild, William Clay Ford, was 7. McLeer says she’s been in the tunnels before, but the tunnels are not open to the public, with the estate currently undergoing renovations.

The south side bridge

Keep traveling down Fair Lane Road until there’s an opening to the right marked by a “Rouge River Gateway Trail” sign. Take that until you see a bridge. Once you get to the red south bridge and cross the Rouge River, there’s a fork in the road — one way leads you to downtown West Dearborn and the other takes you across the river from the Henry Ford Estate.

“You can choose your own adventure,” says McLeer, who walked the trail recently. “It can take you to a busy downtown for lunch or a quiet place to enjoy listening to birds and the sounds of rushing river water.”

If there’s time, stop on the bridge and look for wildlife. McLeer says evidence of beaver families — like gnawed tree trunks — are often seen from the south bridge. “It depends on the time of day whether you’ll see them. They are most active at dawn and dusk,” she says.

Incredibly, the bridge is quiet and serene, even though a busy downtown is just around the bend.

Downtown West Dearborn

Looking to be part of the action? Head left. The trailhead emerges in downtown West Dearborn near the former Andiamo’s building. It seems a bit loud with car traffic after being among the trees and bird songs. There are trees along the way for shade, historic buildings for visual interest and restaurant options for a nice lunch break. Buddy’s Pizza is a few blocks from where the path emerges and more restaurants, coffee shops, stores, parks and museums are nearby.

There’s a Dearborn Summer Market that brings together the community with local farmers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’s at Bryant Branch Library — a very short walk from the trailhead — and runs from 3 to 8 p.m. July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13. The address is 22100 Michigan Ave.

Prefer to take a bike? ��-Dearborn has a bike route that goes from the EIC to downtown West Dearborn via the Rouge River Gateway Trail. Want to make it a social event with ��-Dearborn colleagues? There's a group meeting at the Renick University Center's patio at 4 p.m. Friday, July 12, to walk to the market.

The fish ladder

If a scenic nature walk is the preference, go to the right and cross the second red bridge. On the right, you’ll come to a small waterfall in the river that appears natural — but it was added in the early 20th century to generate hydroelectric power that powered the Henry Ford Estate and 200-plus houses in Dearborn.

McLeer says it’s attractive and innovative, but the waterfall posed a problem for the fish that swam up the Rouge River from the Detroit River. They were blocked by the 12-foot waterfall/dam.

Looking at the environmental concerns and the health of the Rouge River and its wildlife, the Rouge River Advisory Council recently led an effort to create a $9 million fish ladder. (Yes, it’s a real thing and not an idea from Dr. Seuss.) Construction started in 2018 and finished in 2023. As McLeer puts it, “Now the fish can swim upstream to make more of themselves.”

To help Friends of the Rouge learn more about the fish in the river, McLeer says ��-Dearborn alum Robert Muller conducted a long-term research project that assessed fish life in the water. Muller began the project in 2012 as a college intern and continues the work today. The data he gathered helped show why the fish ladder was needed. Fish that travel upstream from the Detroit River to the Rouge include yellow perch, black crappie, emerald shiner and more.

“Environmentalists knew cutting off river access was an issue and the fish ladder had been in talks for quite some time. But it takes education, experts and funding to make large projects like this happen,” McLeer says. “It’s been more than 100 years, but they can finally swim upstream again.”

Many thanks to EIC Interpretive Naturalist Dorothy McLeer for sharing her insights along the trail journey.

Reporter checked out the north side of the trail in June and the EIC’s Orchard Lake trail in May. Next month, we’ll hike around Fair Lane Lake.

Story by Sarah Tuxbury.

Campus Life

Nature or Environment

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Environmental Interpretive Center

Off

Mon, 07/08/2024 - 11:25

Take a stroll back in time — and see a new environmentally friendly addition to the land — when on a campus walk toward the south side of the Rouge Gateway Trail.

An ornate gate opens to Fair Lane's rose garden. Photos/Sarah Tuxbury

The Renick University Center renovation is kicking off next month

lblouin — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:20:21 +0000

The Renick University Center renovation is kicking off next month lblouin Mon, 03/18/2024 - 09:20

Last summer, the university announced a new comprehensive campus planning effort to rethink how we use physical spaces on campus. The centerpiece of that plan is a vision for making the renovated Renick University Center, Mardigian Library and the outdoor space between the two buildings a new central hub for campus, particularly for student-focused activities and services. Executive Director for Facilities Operations Carol Glick says this will be a multi-year, multi-phase project, but she’s excited that the first stage — a major renovation of the RUC’s first floor — will begin next month.

The renovation will focus on the east (parking lot) side of the building, where several core student-facing offices will be getting new or updated spaces. Director of Planning and Construction Emily Hamilton says one of the fun parts about this renovation is working with staff to design around their specific needs, many of which have changed substantially post-pandemic. For example, staff in the One-Stop, the student-facing hub for enrollment-focused services, have embraced hybrid scheduling and office sharing. Hamilton says this, along with new, recently adopted guidelines for more compact offices, enabled the facilities team to create additional spaces within the same physical office footprint. “By having smaller offices and shared offices, along with more efficient furniture styles, we were able to create a whole new flexible workroom space that has a TV on the wall, and you can push the tables together for meetings, or break them apart to eat lunch or have a conversation,” Hamilton says. “So they’re getting more useful space in the One-Stop without adding any square footage.”

University Unions and Events is also getting a new suite on the first floor, which gives staff a location nearer the meeting rooms that UUE manages, like Kochoff Hall. The renovated first floor will gain several smaller meeting rooms, as well as a large meeting room for hosting tour and orientation groups. The Student Advising and Resource Team, or START, will be moving down to a new first floor location and will be sharing a suite with Career Services, which is moving over from the Fairlane campus.

One of the biggest transformations is happening along the east end of the building, where the bank of transaction counters will be removed and replaced with a large open lounge area. Furnished with cozy furniture and a multi-sided, walk-around fireplace, this space is intended to create the welcoming living room the campus has never really had. “This building is the center of the campus, right? So this is prime real estate,” Hamilton says. “We realized having rooms that store years and years of student documents wasn’t the best use of that space. We want every inch of that prime space to be focused on serving students.”

The renovated One-Stop office will feature a much more open floor plan. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

Another view of the new open One-Stop office. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

A more efficient office design made this new flexible work space in the One-Stop possible. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

University Unions and Events' new flexible workspace. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

The new work room in the suite shared by START and Career Services. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

The renovation project is currently out for bid, and Project Manager Kal Haddad expects construction crews will start prep work in early April. Starting March 18, offices impacted by the renovation began temporarily moving to various locations. The One-Stop will relocate to the SSB building. The UUE info desk will shift to the northwest corner of the RUC, outside Kochoff Hall. The Office of International Affairs will move to the second floor of the RUC. Kochoff Hall and meeting rooms 1225 and 1227 will remain open for scheduling. Picasso and the credit union will be unaffected by the renovation. The Bookstore will be downsized and renovated. Glick expects the first floor to fully reopen sometime during the first quarter of 2025.

Work on the Mardigian Library, as well as the outdoor space between the RUC and library, is not part of this initial round of design and construction but is expected to begin in the next few years. Work on the larger comprehensive campus plan is also ongoing and scheduled to be finalized in May. A forum will be held to review the data collection and evaluation process, share findings and address questions from the campus community.

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Learn more about the comprehensive campus plan. Story by Lou Blouin

Campus Life

University-wide

Facilities Operations

Facilities Planning

Off

Mon, 03/18/2024 - 13:11

The plan to make a renovated Renick University Center and Mardigian Library the new central hub of campus is taking some big steps.

This artist rendering is the inspiration for the renovated east side of the Renick University Center. Credit: Neumann Smith Architecture

Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

lblouin — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:13:24 +0000

Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. lblouin Mon, 01/08/2024 - 13:13

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. worked tirelessly toward creating a just and equitable society where people were valued and respected, regardless of skin color, abilities or social class. To do this, the civil rights leader and Nobel Prize winner advocated for peaceful approaches to some of society's biggest problems — problems that continue today, more than 55 years after his assassination.

“Dr. King challenged systemic oppression and the people in power were threatened by his words and peaceful actions. Dr. King practiced what he preached. He changed us for the better. And he was murdered for it,” says Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering Graduate Programs Coordinator Rebekah Awood, a 2000 ��-Dearborn alum who’s participated in MLK Day of Service events on campus for nearly 25 years. “Dr. King changed lives through acts of service — we still need to continue his work and do better. This time of year is a reminder to follow his lead and help where you can, however you can.”

To offer service opportunities in honor of King's legacy, ��-Dearborn is hosting the annual MLK Day of Service and Week of Events, which is a partnership with Henry Ford College, on Jan. 15. There are several volunteer opportunities available on campus, in the community or remotely at home. Times and locations vary, depending on the volunteer opportunity chosen. Opening remarks for the event will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Kochoff Hall in the Renick University Center.

During the MLK Day of Service’s 31-year history at ��-Dearborn, more than 8,500 people have volunteered 42,000 hours in Detroit and the surrounding areas, says Civic Engagement Coordinator JaNai’ James. James says she hopes students, faculty, staff and community members will sign up and add to these numbers and the community impact made.

“There are many ways to get involved. You have strengths that your community needs. If you are concerned that you don’t have the skills to build a house or something like that, I want to let you know that it’s OK. I don’t have that either. All you need to have is a willingness to help,” she says. “If you are open to helping, there is someone who will accept your help.”

James says there are new volunteer opportunities this year. Volunteers are needed to assemble play kits for hospitalized children, create chew toys for shelter animals and put together welcome bags for families entering homeless shelters. This is in addition to soup kitchen assistance, food pantry stocking and clean-up work. Partner organizations include Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Project Sunshine, Auntie Na’s House, Kids Against Hunger, Eternal Light, Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, World Medical Relief Detroit, Tuckerville Transitions House and more.

“Everyone has their own reasons for why they participate, but we all share that we got out of bed on a day off and are choosing to put good into the world,” James says. “The MLK Day of Service emphasizes Dr. King’s spirit of service while giving us time to reflect on our actions and our values. It’s hopefully the first step toward a much larger question: ‘How can we continue this work?’”

Awood says she and her daughter Abigail, 11, will participate again in this year’s day of service. The pair take part in the MLK Day of Service yarn group — they knit and crochet hats and scarves that are then donated to local organizations — that meets in Fairlane Center. Echoing James’ sentiments, Awood says she needs to remember that every act counts — even when it seems small.

Awood, who grew up in a church that preached white supremacy and gender divides, uses the homemaking skills she was required to learn as a way to give warmth to people in need. As Awood crochets, she’s performing her small act of peaceful resistance to honor King’s legacy.

As a child, Awood recalls hearing church leaders say hateful things about Dr. King. “In my childhood innocence, I didn’t understand why they vilified him so much. We were Baptist. He was a Baptist preacher, too. He was formally educated in religious studies. His message was biblically sound,” she says. “When I later connected the comments people made about him to who he was as a person, I finally understood that they vilified him because he was Black. It was disgusting. I consider that a point on my timeline where I realized I needed to educate myself, question the status quo and, finally, leave my church.”

Since the late 1990s, Awood has volunteered during ��-Dearborn’s MLK Day of Service and sought out other opportunities for service. She’s sung in choir performance tributes to MLK, driven students to service sites and attended expert-led conversation-based events that discussed systemic racism. She says she continues to participate and seek out knowledge because learning is continuous.

“Sometimes it feels like there is never enough we can do to undo the damage of things we were taught or experienced — and that these system injustices are too big to take on. But I remind myself that every bit, even if it feels tiny, helps,” Awood says. “The first step is showing up. Then you put in some work. What happens from there is up to us.”

Here are campus events taking place next week that highlight MLK and the importance of continued social justice work.

Civil Rights Anthems Display
ongoing, Mardigian Library
Discover the music that accompanied the movement. The Mardigian Library will have a display on Civil Rights anthems for MLK week. The display will feature a short history of each song, including the iconic "We Shall Overcome," and provide an opportunity to listen to each of the songs.

MLK Week of Events Keynote with ��-Flint Chief Diversity Officer David Luke
1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, Zoom.

��-Flint’s Chief Diversity Officer David Luke reflects on MLK’s legacy through the context of the recent ban on affirmative action and attacks on its successor — diversity, equity and inclusion. While some argue that Dr. King would be opposed to DEI interventions, Luke argues that affirmative action and DEI are outgrowths of the Civil Rights Movement and are tools consistent with Dr. King's fight against racism and systemic oppression.

2024 MLK Peace Rally
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Meet at the Renick University Center.

Poster making begins at 11 a.m.; the rally starts at noon at the RUC's northeast entrance.

A peaceful march from ��-Dearborn to Henry Ford College recognizes the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorates the role that protest has taken in shaping our society. Hear a keynote address from Henry Ford College African American Studies Professor Kalvin Harvell. The rally will end at Henry Ford College's Building L. Refreshments will be provided upon arrival at HFC.

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Article by Sarah Tuxbury

Campus Life

Events

Inclusion or Diversity

Off

Mon, 01/08/2024 - 18:10

��-Dearborn hosts the annual MLK Day of Service on Jan. 15, followed by a week of events that highlight Dr. King and the importance of continued social justice work.

Members of the ��-Dearborn community make blankets that were donated to local nonprofits during the MLK Day of Service in 2022.

Turning the page for literacy

stuxbury — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:25:33 +0000

Turning the page for literacy stuxbury Wed, 10/11/2023 - 13:25

Does how we experience books and the choice of books offered to us influence what sort of reader a person becomes –or whether they become a reader at all? Breaking the Cycle with Books, a new student organization at ��-Dearborn, sees the experience of visiting an independent bookstore as a powerful tool to promote literacy.

President Alyamamh Rahimee can personally attest to the method's success. “It just opened doors for me to read more," she says. "And I'm not exaggerating. Before that, I had barely completed a book."

The ��-Dearborn chapter of Breaking the Cycle with Books spun out of the Detroit-based nonprofit founded by Mike Cruz, a 2008 College of Education, Health, and Human Services graduate. Cruz, Rahimee's social studies teacher at Western International High School, launched the program through his classroom and took students on field trips to local bookstores, allowing them to choose any three books they liked for free. Cruz has since expanded the program to provide these field trips for students at other Title I schools in Detroit. The ��-Dearborn student organization works in partnership with Cruz, but operates independently.

"I was one of those students who got to experience Breaking the Cycle with Books," Rahimee says, recounting a field trip Cruz led to Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor. "I wasn't really into reading at that time. And then when I got to go on the field trip, it was such a nice experience. I got to choose whatever I wanted and explore my interests outside of school." She emphasizes that the ability to choose what she wanted to read, not bound to any class assignment or curriculum, made a difference when it came to improving her literacy skills and reading habits.

Among the books she chose was “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone. "It explored racism and how it ultimately ends lives,” she says. “I chose this specifically because it was a topic of interest to me to explore the roots of racism and where it stems from."

The ��-Dearborn club, founded by Rahimee's older sister, Ahlam Rahimee, and led by Alyamamh since Ahlam 2023 graduation, is focused on Breaking the Cycle with Books’ mission “to provide equitable access to literacy for historically underserved youth in an effort to increase high school retention, cultural enhancement and college readiness.” Ahlam Rahimee, a medical assistant at a Dearborn Heights medical center, says the organization also helps people raised in more privileged communities become connected and aware of challenges within underserved ones.

"I saw the potential that it could bring for students at ��-Dearborn," Ahlam Rahimme says. "I noticed many of my classmates would benefit by allowing them to explore and learn from the experience of working with underserved communities and be able to connect with these communities through the love of books.” The older Rahimee sister serves on the executive board of the Breaking the Cycle with Books organization.

Alyamamh Rahimee, who has just begun her first year at ��-Dearborn, says she’s eager to extend the experience she received in high school to others. The university’s chapter is still in the planning stages for bookstore excursions; Rahimee says members are working to organize two bookstore trips in the spring. Their current focus is fundraising for larger expenses, such as bus transportation. Members are looking for sponsors and will host two bake sales in the Renick University Center on Oct. 18 and Nov. 1. Looking into the future, Rahimee says she would like to expand the program beyond high school and have their student organization work with elementary and middle schools. Currently, the org is focused on Detroit schools, but the ��-Dearborn student group would like to expand to Dearborn schools too.

Want to help Breaking the Cycle with Books? Rahimee encourages anyone who wants to get involved to get in touch through VictorsLink.

Article by Shaun Manning

Campus Life

Student Life

Off

Wed, 10/11/2023 - 17:23

After a life-changing field trip to a bookstore, Alyamamh Rahimee leads the new student organization Breaking the Cycle with Books.

Alyamamh Rahimee, a first-year ��-Dearborn student, leads the campus chapter of Breaking the Cycle with Books.

Your Guide to Homecoming '23

stuxbury — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:24:47 +0000

Your Guide to Homecoming '23 stuxbury Wed, 09/13/2023 - 16:24

There’s so much to love when it comes to ��-Dearborn in the fall. Campus walks have a scenic background of color-changing leaves. The McKinley Cafe makes pumpkin spiced lattes. You can get cozy with a good book and a weighted blanket (go to the info desk to check one out) at Mardigian Library.

And then there’s our favorite thing about fall at ��-Dearborn: Homecoming.

“Homecoming is a great time for us to come together and show our pride as Dearborn Wolverines,” said Campus Wide & Family Programs Coordinator Jennifer Kowalczyk. “It’s a chance to get out and connect with each other, cheer for our students and make new memories.”

With Homecoming Week starting on Monday, we’ve rounded up some can’t-miss events happening around campus.

Something old — well, traditional

The week of events will consist of campus favorites from years past that will give you a reason to shout “Go Blue!” and get a “Go Dearborn!” in return!

There’s the Cardboard Boat Race at 1 p.m. Monday at Chancellor’s Pond. It’s fun to see how students decorate their boats built out of cardboard and duct tape. And everyone has a good time cheering for boats to stay afloat while their student captains speed across the water

Another mainstay of the week is the Homecoming Tailgate. There will be free food, music, games, prizes and more starting at 5 p.m. Friday on the Renick UC Patio. Prior to the event, you can watch the Women's Ice Hockey team face off against Concordia University at 3 p.m. Following the tailgate, everyone can cheer on the Women's Volleyball team as they take on Madonna University at 7 p.m. Both games are free and in the Fieldhouse.

There’s also word on the maize and blue streets that Bruce the Goose, ��-Dearborn’s school spirit friend, is flying in to get photos with fans.

Something new

Traditions are wonderful, but sometimes change is even better.

��-Dearborn has two great hockey teams. So it makes sense for the student vs. alum game to take place on the ice. A rink-based Maize and Blue Broomball game is replacing the Maize and Blue Bowl flag football game. Broomball is similar to ice hockey in its formation and rules, but players — who hold broom-shaped sticks — wear rubber-soled shoes instead of skates and hit a ball instead of a puck. The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Fieldhouse.

If you are a student or alum, sign up to play.

Something maize and something blue

Since Homecoming is all about school spirit and getting involved, ��-Dearborn’s Maize Fest — which takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday on the RUC patio — showcases many of our campus student organizations . In addition, participants can play games, test their golf prowess with putt putt golf, make Build-A-Bear inspired snuggle friends, and more. While enjoying the atmosphere, you can also grab some snacks and a slice of pizza.

Of course we can’t leave out the Big House game. Michigan Football faces off against Rutgers at noon Saturday, Sept. 23. Tickets to the game are sold out, but you can still attend the Alumni Territory Tailgate at ��-Ann Arbor’s Ferry Field. The ticketed event is catered by Slows Bar BQ. Prefer to wave that foam finger from home? Check out the game on the Big Ten Network.

For the complete list of homecoming event dates and times, please visit umdearborn.edu/homecoming.

Campus Life

Student Life

Off

Wed, 09/13/2023 - 20:23

At ��-Dearborn, fall is all about our favorite fall tradition. We’ve rounded up some can’t-miss events happening around campus this year.

Celebrating the vibrancy and creativity of our campus

stuxbury — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:04:24 +0000

Celebrating the vibrancy and creativity of our campus stuxbury Wed, 08/30/2023 - 11:04

You don’t need to travel much farther than ��-Dearborn’s classrooms to meet people who have incredible stories of resilience and strength. They’ve lived through events that make news headlines: changing governments, economic crises, war and more. They’ve traveled the world, navigated new languages and cultures, and have feelings of home in places both old and new.

Class of 2018 graduate Hanan Ali Nasser penned a letter reflecting on the journey her parents took when fleeing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s regime when Nasser was a small child. Yasmin Mohamed, whose family left Yemen when she was an infant, writes about the changes her family experienced starting with North Yemen’s Civil War — and how that’s shaped the College of Education, Health, and Human Services alum’s identity as an Arab American today.

“I remember Dad always expecting me to do more. He used to hold my hands when I was little, kiss them and say, ‘these hands are going to write,’” wrote Mohamed, a Dearborn Wolverine who earned her graduate degree in 2009 and is a teacher for Dearborn Public Schools. “These hands that he kissed are writing…he will forever be my hero.”

These are two of the 14 authors who contributed to the book “Hadha Baladuna: Arab American Narratives of Boundary and Belonging” (Wayne State University Press, 2022). The book is ��-Dearborn’s 2023-24 Community Read.

Community Read is a campuswide program where students, faculty and staff learn together and develop a clearer picture of the university community and what it means to be a part of it. “Hadha Baladuna,” which means “this is our country” in Arabic, is a collection of creative nonfiction exploring the diversity of Arab American voices and experiences in the southeastern Michigan region. The book, which has been named a Michigan Notable Book and received the Arab American Book Awards’ Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award, is the first work of creative nonfiction in the field of Arab American literature that focuses entirely on the Arab diaspora in Metro Detroit.

“When discussing which book to choose for the Community Read, ‘Hadha Baladuna’ emerged as the unanimous favorite. It allows us to celebrate the creativity and vibrancy of our campus and the city we live, learn and work in,” said Associate Professor of History Kristin Poling, who is this year’s Community Read co-chair. “It also shows current students the power of storytelling and voice.”

The 237-page book — which can be downloaded for free by ��-Dearborn community members — is edited by History Professor Sally Howell, former ��-Dearborn English Assistant Professor Ghassan Abou-Zeineddine, and anthropologist Nabeel Abraham.

“I hope that ‘Hadha Baladuna’ will help the campus community understand a bit more about the diversity of experiences and worldviews found among Arab Americans, and also to see what is universal in these stories,” Howell said. “We have so much in common with one another, regardless of where our families come from.”

Throughout the academic year, Poling said there will be several opportunities to engage with the book, learn more about the diversity in the Arab American community, and think about themes featured within “Hadha Baladuna.” University events will include book readings, workshops and community projects. More information will be shared this fall.

Until then, here are five ways to get involved:

Read the book. To keep “Hadha Baladuna” easily accessible, the e-book version — is free for Dearborn Wolverines.

Apply for grants. Want to take your students on a field trip? Bring in a guest speaker? Or get supplies for a hands-on activity? The Faculty Senate First-Year Experience Committee is providing small grants to support curricular and co-curricular efforts related to the Community Read. Apply. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all funds are distributed. Questions? Reach out to Poling.

Check out the library resource page. The Mardigian Library’s subject guide on “Hadha Baladuna” shares more information regarding southeast Michigan’s Arab American community, immigrant experiences and Dearborn’s history. There are companion readings, podcasts and online exhibits. Questions or suggestions about the guide? Contact librarian Anne Dempsey.

Get teaching ideas. Here are a few ideas for how to adopt the book into your classes. It includes writing and discussion prompts, activities and field trips. If you need a hard copy of the book to facilitate teaching, reach out to Poling or Dempsey.

Visit the Arab American National Museum. By showing your ��-Dearborn ID, ��-Dearborn students receive annual membership to the Arab American National Museum, which includes unlimited admission to the museum, discounts on public programs, workshops and events. It also includes check-out privileges at the Russell J. Ebeid Library & Resource Center, the largest collection of books by and about Arab Americans.

Howell said learning and teaching opportunities are everywhere — and can even be found within our homes. She hopes people, after reading the stories and poetry in the book, will consider writing down their own reflections and experiences.

“We have four alumni included in the book and I am hoping that a future volume might be inspired by this one,” Howell said. “For all the writers out there: keep at it.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

Campus Life

Faculty Research

University-wide

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters

Faculty Senate

Off

Wed, 08/30/2023 - 15:03

Learn more about ��-Dearborn’s 2023-24 Community Read, “Hadha Baladuna,” and five ways you can get involved.

Community Read graphic by Jeff Knudsen/Michigan Creative